By Sarah Holt

What is the most nerve-wracking wait you have ever been put through?

TOMLINSON TAKES OFF Age: 22 Event: Long jump Personal best: 8.27 metres Honours: British champion 2004, British indoor champion 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, European Cup 2002 Coach: Peter Stanley Club: Newham & Essex Beagles

Could you handle waiting all summer to find out if you were going to your first ever Olympic Games?

Or would the nerves and doubts start eating away at you?

"Absolutely, totally," agrees British long jump record holder Chris Tomlinson.

Despite being Britain's leading and most consistent performer - with nearly 20 jumps over eight metres this season - Tomlinson spent much of the last 12 months uncertain if he had done enough to secure his place on the British team.

Chasing the Olympic 'A' qualifying standard of 8.19m, the 22-year-old knew fellow Briton Nathan Morgan had already jumped 8.26m - though he had done so in July 2003 at a meeting in Hamburg.

With just one place on the team up for grabs, Tomlinson had to wait until 13 July before discovering who had got the nod.

"I spent a lot of days getting more nervous before competitions, I had sleepless nights," Tomlinson told BBC Sport.

"Although I spoke regularly to (UK Athletics coach) Charles van Commenee, he could not say a certain 'yes' or 'no'.

"The decision was not in my hands and I knew I wasn't going to be picked automatically. But in my heart of hearts I was 90% sure I had a chance.

"I had won the AAAs title at the Olympic trials, and I felt Nathan would have to jump 8.19m or convincingly beat me to get the place - neither of which he did.

"When I found out I had been picked I was excited and sat about thinking 'Wow, I'm going to be an Olympian.'

TOMLINSON TALKS... The long jump "You have to be a sprint reject who can jump as well" Food "I like to eat pasta, fruit or fish before competing" Leisure "I'll watch DVDs and use the internet in the British camp" Athens "I'll do some light training and go down to check out the pits and the crowd in the stadium" Injury doubts "I was a bit worried about having tight hamstrings but I try not to think about them"

"I did feel sorry for Nathan because he's a good friend - but all the pressure was lifted off my shoulders."

So, Tomlinson has survived the emotional turmoil of making the Olympic squad for the first time.

But he can be sure that more nerve-jangling moments are lurking just around the corner in Athens.

The 22-year-old has promised much since making his senior debut for Great Britain three years ago.

In 2002 he smashed the British record with a leap of 8.27m just three months after breaking both wrists in a weight-training accident.

But he could not convert his potential into medals at that summer's Commonwealth Games and European Championships, leading to suggestions he lacked the mental toughness necessary to compete at the highest level.

"I'll hold my hands up and say I bottled it," said Tomlinson.

"There are a lot of athletes who can run fast and jump far but don't know how they actually do it.

"I came out and jumped 8.27m, but somehow I managed to lose it and didn't really know how to get it back.

"In competitions, you're out there for an hour and a half and you do get jelly legs.

"But now I think, 'Hey - I'm in this competition - let's get going.'

"I'm not saying I'm a big time performer or not - we'll just see what I do in Athens."

Tomlinson - I can win medal

Tomlinson became the first Briton to reach a World Championships long jump final in Paris last year and will be aiming to reach the final showdown in Greece too.

The Middlesbrough-based athlete is ranked ninth in the world and has a season's best leap of 8.13m - 43cm behind American Dwight Phillips' world-leading mark.

"I hope the Olympic Games will be just the start of things for me," says Tomlinson.

"I feel it's only a matter of time before I get a break and move up a level.

"Fingers crossed it will happen in Athens, but if it doesn't, I'll keep ploughing on and training hard.

"I still haven't had that one big leap that jumpers talk about when everything comes together.

"I know it will come - but until then, give me my shorts and vest, put me on the runway, let me compete and I'm happy."